Microsoft to ship Project Natal October 26 for $149?

A "trusted source" has informed Edge-Online that Microsoft will ship its Xbox 360 motion controller worldwide around late October, and it will supposedly cost more than expected. Based on current exchange rates, Edge reports that the standalone controller will retail for £103/121/$149, while a console and Project Natal bundle will be £207/243/$299.

That conflicts with previous talk of Project Natal launching for $80, and if true, it would make Microsoft's peripheral far more expensive than Sony's PlayStation Move, which is expected to be bundled with a PS3 game for less than $100.

The source also said that Microsoft plans to ditch the name "Project Natal" for something a bit more market-friendly. The controller's commercial name should be revealed next month during its world premiere on June 13.